What's Smokin: Past Press Releases

WASHINGTON D.C., Updated 11:06 p.m. CST December 19, 2000 -- Texans are two-stepping their way to Washington, making a lasting impression as they go.



How Texas Touches Washington

President-elect George Bush and his staff have been in Washington laying the foundation for his administration, but they are also looking for a little taste of home.
The owners of CapitalQBBQ said that one taste of their barbecue and Bush will install a hotline to the restaurant.

"Once he comes here he will realize that he doesn't need to go to Texas to get real brisket," Nick Fontana said. "The White House chef will have a direct line to the restaurant.

Fontana settled in Washington 10 years ago, but he brought with him Texas mementos to decorate his restaurant.

Texans who visit the restaurant will find something that makes it extra special. The restaurant is in the heart of Chinatown.

For Immediate Release: September 1, 2000
Contact: Nick Fontana, Capital Q

The Republican National Convention

Dick Armey's Salute To George W

We did a ton of smokin’ prior to the party in Philadelphia (see press release). Food production took about a week and thanks to family, friends, and help from other restaurants, we were able to get all the product loaded in a 21’ refrigerated truck and head out to Philly on time. In our caravan was an eight-member crew which consisted of myself, Kevin (our chef) and some unpaid friends that posed as laborers (please see the photo of this cracker-jack crew). Group shot of Participants

We departed Washington at approximately 9pm, on August 2nd, for the party on the following night. Driving through miserable rain, our Astro van escorted the big truck through the night, while I believe some of our crew was polishing off a bottle of Absolut mandarin and a few beers. We managed to arrive at the designated staging area for the truck at approximately 1am. Our instructions were to drop the truck off on the grounds of the Spectrum, then come back in the morning and get to work unloading and preparing for the event. Well, the Secret Service had a different idea. While we negotiated in the pouring rain, it was decided that the only way the truck was getting on the grounds of the Spectrum was if we unloaded the truck, had the dogs sweep it, and then reloaded it. At 1am and with the condition of the weather and our crew, we did not choose this option. They instructed us to remove the truck from the inspection area and take it back to our motel in New Jersey. Then we really started negotiating! Luckily, the Secret Service headquarters happens to be right down the street and some of the big bosses are regular customers. That, combined with the fact that we were feeding all the security and volunteers prior to the event, helped convince them that we could leave the truck in the outer lot overnight. This was a huge accomplishment since it saved driving that truck through the rain again. It also gave us the opportunity to attend a late night party that evening.

I wanted our crew to have the chance of attending one party so they could experience a little of the convention atmosphere. It was already 2 am by this time, and I called a good friend to see if we could get in the warehouse party he was sponsoring. "I don’t know if I can do it, Nick. There are people waiting outside who can’t get in, and I don’t have any extra credentials. How many do you have?" "Eight", I replied. "How many are women?", he asked. "Women?", I asked. "I have two Thai guys, a Puerto Rican, one white boy, a half Mexican, myself and a Greek driver," I replied. Somewhat disappointed, he said to come down and he’d see what he could do. As we drove along the Philly waterfront looking for this party, we kinda thought we were in the wrong neighborhood. The farther we went the uglier it got. After passing one bar with the patrons spilling on the street and out of their clothes, we really thought our directions were wrong. But suddenly we saw a line of limos stretched out before us and people with very nice suits and dresses lined up at the door. As we proceeded in our Astro van toward valet parking, the doormen must have thought we were the clean-up crew. They looked at us like we were lost and definitely weren’t going inside. As our multinational crew unloaded and stumbled out of the van, looking wide-eyed and a just a bit underdressed, I saw our friend at the door shaking his head. He continued to shake his head but waved us in past security past people that probably should have been inside, who happened to be shaking their heads as well.

We walked into a huge, loud and shaking warehouse. We knew right away that we had better find a staging area for ourselves or we would never reassemble. We found a nice spot near the bar, for those of us that needed a drink, in an area crowded enough to hold up those of us who had a little too much mandarin. The place was packed and wasn’t thinning out for the late hour. It had been decorated to the hilt, and there were trucks pumping a/c into the place and trucks serving as restrooms. The crowd was good-looking and pleasant. I did not notice a shortage of women in the crowd, but I also didn’t notice a group like ours. We drank a bit and danced a bit less, until the band and bar gave last call around 4 am. Multiple Shots of Convention

Our agenda called for us to reconvene at the Spectrum, at 10am the next morning, and begin unloading the BBQ and assisting with the prep and set-up for the party for 4,000 that evening. We had only one crew member who failed to make roll call. If you’re thinking it was the one who drank the most mandarin, you would be a genius. The unloading was uneventful. Aramark had a team of culinary workers ready to receive, store and begin set-up of the function, which was then just ten hours away. Kevin worked with Aramarks chefs in the kitchen, and we did a lot of hanging out. We had a feeding at 5pm for 1,000 staff, security and volunteers prior to the event, which started at 9pm. Brooks and Dunn was to begin playing at 9:30, but the majority of the crowd didn’t show up until after Bush’s speech was over, around 11pm. The food was well received and the party was a smash. Drinking, dancing and BBQ make a pretty good schedule of events. It was amazing that the whole arena smelled like a BBQ joint as soon as you walked in. The party ended around 2 am, and we departed for the evening.

After loading out the following morning, we headed down to the Italian market. After feasting on cheesesteaks at Pat’s and Gino’s, we kicked around the market purchasing olives, cheeses, cannoli and other items that we just can’t find in Washington. It’s an incredible array of stores and restaurants not found many places. If you ever get a chance to visit, it is well worth it. After relaxing a bit, we loaded up and got back on 95 and plowed through the pouring rain all the way back.

Capital Q, Of Washington, DC, To Cater
The Majority Leader’s Texas Sized
"Salute To George W."

National political conventions are comprised of big time corporate sponsors, big media and big caterers. So, what do you do when your nominee is from Texas, and you need to feed him "real" Texas BBQ at a party for 4,000 of his friend in Philadelphia?

Well you could call a local caterer and start praying. Maybe you could fly a ton of smoked meat and a hundred gallons of BBQ sauce up from Texas and pray some more. Or finally, you could do what the Republicans did and just call the guys at CAPITAL Q.

A small BBQ joint in Washington, D.C., CAPITAL Q is owned by native Texan, Nick Fontana. He and his crew produce quality Texas BBQ daily, they are a log closer to Philly than the lone star state, and are experienced at feeding Texas legislators.

This pint-sized pit has been chosen to cater the August 3rd party for the 2000 Republican National Convention at the Philadelphia Spectrum. CAPITAL Q may be the smallest caterer at the convention, but it will cook one of the largest meals of the entire event - "A Texas-sized BBQ". How big is the party? The menu includes: 1,000 lbs. of smoked beef brisket; 1,000 lbs. of BBQ chicken; 500 lbs of Elgin hot sausage; 200 gallons each of baked beans, cole slaw, potato salad and banana pudding; 3,000 pieces of jalapeno cornbread; and 2,000 pralines. That's a big BBQ, but the crew at "The Q" know what hungry Texans enjoy.

"Philadelphia is a wonderful town," says Fontana, "But 4,000 people, many of whom are from Texas, will get tired of eating cheesesteaks all week. We are honored to participate in the convention with Governor Bush, and we hope to show him that he won't have to leave all of Texas behind when he comes to the White House."

About Capital Q
OPENED BY FONTANA IN 1997, CAPITAL Q QUICKLY HAS FOUND A NICHE WITH THE PICKY TEXANS ON CAPITOL HILL, WHO WERE ALWAYS SKEPTICAL OF ANYONE CLAIMING TO PRODUCE THE TASTES OF HOME. THEY HAVE FOUND THAT TASTE AT CAPITAL Q. THE BBQ PIT'S EVER-GROWING WALL OF FAME, WITH PICTURES OF SATISFIED CUSTOMERS, INCLUDES MANY TEXAN POLITICIANS, SOME NON-TEXANS, AND EVEN A CANADIAN, SHANIA TWAIN. WHO FED HER ENTIRE CREW AT THE RESTAURANT WHEN SHE PERFORMED IN WASHINGTON IN 1999. WASHINGTONIAN MAGAZINE TWICE HAS NAMED CAPITAL Q "ONE OF THE 100 BEST BARGAIN RESTAURANTS IN THE WASHINGTON METRO AREA". FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.CAPITALQBBQ.COM, OR CONTACT NICK FONTANA DIRECTLY.

Texans Two-Stepping Their Way To Washington

Lone Star Natives Find Real Barbecue

The Republican National Convention

Dick Armey's Salute To George W